[Multi-AAR] - History of men - EB part

[Fixiwee]

A man of violence

A history of Rome, by Prof Alfred Kennard, 2002 New York

Silanus returned to Rome immediately after the battle of Aeclanum. Unlike his previous returns to the city after campaigning against the enemies of Rome, the return was most unwelcoming. The remaining followers of the Populares went out on the streets protesting and they clashed together with followers of the Optimates on the Forum. Soon the whole situation deteriorated to violence and at the end of the day hundreds of dead bodies covered the Forum. The following days Silanus retaliated for what he saw as an attack on the Optimates and more Populares were murdered on the streets.
After seeing that he was walking on dangerous terrain with this sort of disposal, he legitimated his action with the lex Iunus de proscritione that allowed the killing of everyone who was published on a list by the Senate. For the first weeks, Silanus took merciless revenge on his enemies and Rome sank into blood.

How Lucius Marcundus accidentally brought down the Roman Republic

By Eric Damon
(part II)

“There is no need to worry. We are absolutely safe.” The Marcundus family was sitting in the garden, eating dinner outside. The table was filled with olive oil, water and wine pitches. The family was eating pork enrolled in chards. Manius, the father, was talking, having baked pork ears in his hands. “I have had long lasting business with many patrician Optimates. I doubt that any one of them will put my name on the lists.”
Manius was referring to the new law that was being passed in the Senate. With the victory over Calatinus, Silanus had returned to Rome seeking to destroy the Populares forever. His enemies’ names were released on a list making them outlaws.
“I heard that there is fighting on the Forum again. When is this going to stop?” Lucius, now sixteen years old, seemed to be worried.
“I don’t know. This will probably delay the Populares. But it certainly won’t stop them. See, that is the reason why I don’t get into politics. Being a Senator, yes I could afford it. But then I would have to choose sides and the next morning I’ll get stabbed. Being a politician in Rome is more dangerous then being a gladiator these days. But let’s talk about something else while eating this delicious food.”
The expression in Manius face suddenly changed from serious to relaxed and the dining conversation did not mention politics again.

The following morning Lucius could sleep in because his rhetoric class was cancelled due to the violence on the streets. His younger sister Gaia entered the Room while he was still dozing. “Silly brother, you have guests. Tiberius is here.”
“Why am I the only person on earth who likes to sleep in?” Lucius was rather mumbling sleepily then talking clearly.
Tiberius suddenly stepped in and when Gaia noticed Lucius' friend she started to giggle and ran out of the room.
“Look at you. You are like a worthless old ox sleeping all day. Your father should sell you as cattle on the market.”
“Shut up and let me sleep.” Lucius pulled buried his head into his pillow.
“You are such a goober. Get up; I heard there's dead bodies and blood all over the Forum. They’ll dump the bodies into the Tiber. I want to see that.”
Naturally sensationalism was a part of the Romans life.
“Janus! Alright alright. You’re not going to let me sleep anyway. But get out of the room I have to get dressed first.”

An hour later the two friends were standing on the Capitoline hill looking down on the Forum. It was a nice September morning with a few clouds covering the sky. The two of them were observing people caring dead human bodies and piling them up on carts.
“It’s strange, isn’t it? The fascination of death. We all fear it but we all love to observe it, be a part of it from a safe distance”. Tiberius loved to talk like a Greek philosopher.
“I think its plain stupid: Both sides claim to fight for the people of Rome, yet all they do is to kill each other for power and money. I’m sick of this of this place.
“Since when are you being so critical? You always used to joke about politics. And now you are pissed off about everyone and everything? That’s not like you.”
“It’s just that killing each other is crossing the line.”
Lucius paused and for a while the both just observed how people were cleaning up the mess on the Forum.
“I have to tell you something. Next spring, when I’ll turn seventeen, I’ll be going to Greece studying sculpting.” He waited for Tiberius reaction.
“That sounds great.” Tiberius had a surprised yet happy expression in his face.
“You are not mad? After all I’m leaving my best friend here.”
“Nah boy. Of course it’ll be a bit boring without you, but hey – you’ve got to take the opportunity. I’ll still be here when you return, right?”
“Yeah sure.”
“Is your father paying for that?”
“Yeah.”
“Damn. Your family is really making a fortune with your animal sculptor business.”
“Well I have to do some business for my father in Greece too. That’ll pay the expenses.”
“Well that’s really great news. We should celebrate and go get drunk tonight.”
Lucius thought about it for a second.
“Sure why not. But let’s head over to Via Flaminia and watch some girls. We could pick up some salted dates at Maximus.”
Both left the miserable, yet not unusual scene with dead people lying dead on the Forum.

Lucius burst into laughter.
“He put the pork chops on his stomach, the lion comes up and starts to eat them. Hasalius giggles and says that lions are as hungry as he is. When Faustina comes into the house Hasalius wants to hide his lion in the basement. He immediately notices the cake in the kitchen. He looks at the lion, looks at the cake and looks at the lion again. He says something like: ‘How mad can my wife be just because I bought a lion instead of bread?’ and starts eating the cake.” Tiberius was on a rampage when telling funny stories. He was retelling the comedy play of a whacky fat Eastern Greek who comes to Rome marrying a rich but angry patrician woman. They play was quite popular in Rome these days for its subtle parody of Roman politics, but also for the blunt slapstick comedy.
Lucius could not stop to laugh. Both were quite drunk on that night.
“I haven’t heard about that one” Lucius replied while catching his breath again. “The last play I saw was with the Roman legionnaire. You know, the one were Hasalius gets mistaken for a Roman general and accidentally goes to Carthage, returns to the city riding in naked on an elephant.” Lucius took a napkin and tried his eyes.
“It’s funny that the real Hasalius actor gets invited to Silanus parties even though he makes fun of him all the time.” Tiberius was always well informed about politics.
“You know what they say about artists: Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer.” Lucius took a sip of his wine and suddenly burst into laughter again, spitting the wine all over the street where they were sitting. “You remember the one where Hasalius became an artist and paints all the busts with those serious Roman faces?”
“Ha-ha that’s one of the earliest plays. Hilarious!”

Lucius and Tiberius were sitting on a wooden table in a small narrow street somewhere in Rome. The tavern they were visiting was called Carthalo, after the famous Carthaginian general. It was a place for young Romans to get wine and pay young prostitutes for sex.

The both noticed that a group of young Romans was about to walk past them. One of them suddenly turned at the laughing duo.
“Why are you laughing, you stupid *****?”
Lucius and Tiberius looked around. It seemed like the bunch was looking for a fight. The leader of the gang, a thin guy with very short hair and strange looking eyes was provoking the two.
“**** off. We are not looking for a fight ********.” Tiberius was first to react, while Lucius tried to be more subtle: “Hey guys, you want to sit down and drink some wine with us?”
Lucius' try to navigate through the situation with diplomatic measures was unheard.
“Who are you to tell me to **** off?” The leader leaped forward on Tiberius trying to push his fist into his opponents face, but missing due to a fast dodging reaction of Tiberius. Nevertheless the leader pushed his whole body against Tiberius pulling him down from the chair on the ground. Lucius always tried to use reason over action, but he was not afraid to act quickly. He jumped from his chair, ramming one of the gang members, using his shoulder to push against the soft belly. While Lucius used the momentum to surprise the attackers thus compensating for his lack of strength, Tiberius was pinned down by the leader and nearly helpless. Tiberius was strong enough to block a few hits from the aggressor, but one punches hit his nose, resulting in a cracking sound. Blood immediately started to spill out of the nostrils.
The rest of the gang reacted and grappled Lucius who was unable to defend against four attackers. They started to kick Lucius with their sandals, while he covered his face with his hands.
The whole situation didn’t even last for a minute when two bulky men from the tavern came up after being alerted by bystanders. These bouncers were used to breaking up fights. The first man kicked the attacker of Tiberius in the left arm, making him fall over from his attacking position. The other bouncer grabbed one of the four gang members at the neck from behind and brought him to the ground with a powerful thrust. The rest of the gang members immediately retreated after realising the bouncers. The gang leader stood up and yelled “you *********” while running away.
After a few seconds Tiberius and Lucius got up. Tiberius was bleeding out of his nose, it was obviously broken.
“****,” he swore. “My ******* nose. They broke it.”
“You two guys okay?” one of the bouncers asked with a Campanian dialect. They were about in their 40ies, but packed with muscles and scars in their face, an obvious mark for a veteran soldier.
“Yeah we are fine, mostly. These ******* pigs. Always looking for a fight.” Lucius replied, then suddenly shouted at the retreating gang: “Sign up for military service if you want to fight”.
“Don’t worry kids. When I was at your age fighting was totally normal at a bar.” The bouncer replied. “You should get your nose fixed at a doctor.”
“Thanks for helping us anyway.” Lucius replied while taking a look at Tiberius nose. “Doesn’t look that bad. I mean, it’s going hurt fixing this, but you should be fine.”
“I think I’m going home now and see what I can do about the nose. Hope the bleeding stops soon.”
Both friends left the scene with bruises and scratches. Such is the way of the male Roman adolescent they figured.